SXSW 2023: VR for Good, J Balvin, and More
SXSW kicks off March 10 in Austin, and VR is poised to take the city by storm. Today, we’re excited to share that five Meta-funded VR projects have been selected as part of the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival—including two from Meta’s VR for Good initiative and one in the XR Experience Competition.
XR Experience Competition
JFK Memento
Sixty years after President Kennedy’s assassination, JFK Memento chronicles the events of November 22, 1963 and the investigation that followed. Across six chapters narrated by the last living witnesses, journalists, and investigators who lived through the events, this documentary is an historically accurate record of these 48 hours that changed the world. Dive into the defining moments of the investigation as archival photos and films come to life, remastered in 3D and reprojected onto the historic sites as they were back in 1963. Produced in collaboration with the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas and with the support of Meta Immersive Learning, JFK Memento is a narrative learning experience.
XR Experience Spotlight
Behind the Dish
Immerse yourself in today’s most sensational gastronomy creations from a new perspective. Discover the stories of three fearless women chefs revolutionizing the food industry. From picturesque farms to prestigious kitchens, embark on an international journey behind the scenes of the culinary world. Thanks to a revolutionary 3D filming technique, dive into the plates and watch super-sized dishes come to life in front of your eyes. Available on Meta Quest TV.
J Balvin Futurum: A VR Concert Experience
One of the top-selling Latin performers in the world, J Balvin will look to the future with an over-the-top visual spectacle. Kicking off the show strapped into a 15-foot robotic arm that moves to the beat of the music, Balvin also performs on a custom-built stage that revolves in conjunction with a fully moving light grid. Add to that choreography from seven back up dancers that was crafted specifically to be shot in VR and you have a recipe for an out-of-this-world event. The special features 17 of Balvin’s hit songs, each performed with a unique staging, including “La Canción,” “I Like It,” “No Me Conoce,” “Mi Gente,” and more. Premieres February 17 at 6:00 pm PT in Meta Horizon Worlds. Learn more.
MLK: Now Is the Time
It’s been 60 years since Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, but the messages from that speech resonate today. MLK: Now Is the Time is an immersive journey that explores key themes of Dr. King’s speech and highlights systemic inequities that persist in our society. Through first-person stories and interactions, MLK: Now Is the Time drops you into a thoroughly modern interpretation of a contemporary March on Washington that will inform and inspire a new generation of activists. Available on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro. Learn more.
You Destroy. We Create. The War on Ukraine’s Culture
What happens when museums can no longer show their collections and instead need to hide them? What does it mean to be a street artist when your city is being bombed? What music do you create when your country is under attack? You Destroy. We Create. takes you on a 25-minute immersive journey through Ukraine, where artists and professionals from the cultural sphere are busy protecting, rebuilding, and creating art. This topical documentary piece uses a combination of 360°/180° stereo videos, drone footage, photogrammetry scans, and CG animations to bring you an emotionally engaging, urgent human story. Available on Meta Quest TV. Learn more.
What has you most excited for SXSW 2023? Let us know on Meta’s VR Forums.
